Overcharged for my allotment

Is there a maximum amount a private landlord can charge for an allotment ? The landlord has put the rent up from £5 per annum to £50 which makes my home grown fruit and veg a lot more expensive. HD, Stockton on Tees

Geoff Stokes, National Secretary for the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners says:

The rules that govern allotment fees were laid down in the 1950 Allotments Act, which says that local authorities (LAs) can charge only what a plot-holder can reasonably expect to pay.

The legislation was drawn up after the Second World War when the priority was to encourage people to provide food for themselves, whereas now people are more concerned about the value of their produce and, increasingly, the value of the land.

The majority of allotments are owned by LAs, which have a statutory duty to provide the sites. However, there are some sites in private hands such as farmers, who can earn an income from land they would otherwise have no use for.

Also, in the past, employers used to provide allotments for staff who worked on the railways or in coal mines, although many of these have been turned over to local authorities. Other sites are by churches, charities or private individuals.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to stop a private landlord charging whatever they like for your plot. And with land values rising, they are looking for a better return on their 'investment'.

You could ask the LA what it charges for a similar plot in the area and try to negotiate the price down with the landowner. But if the owner holds firm there's nothing you can do.

Ultimately you could persuade the LA to buy the land under a compulsory purchase order but that cannot happen while it is still being used for allotments. It really is a last resort.